DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAM PLANNED

Editor's note: This is the first in a series regarding the illegal drug
known as methamphetamine. The narcotics officers interviewed have all been
given alias names, as have those who were directly involved in the
manufacture or use of meth.

"Knowledge is of two kinds: we know a subject ourselves, or we know where
we can find information upon it" -- Samuel Jackson, 1809-1784

Tomorrow night offers an opportunity for anyone with a curious mind or
concern for the community to learn more about methamphetamine and how to be
an active participant with law enforcement in the on-going battle against
drugs.

"What's Cooking in Your Neighborhood?" is a drug awareness program
concerning the methamphetamine epidemic in North Texas. It will be at 7
p.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Denison, sponsored by the
Substance Abuse Council and the Denison Lions Club.

Wayne Campbell has been a one-man crusader in the battle, armed with his
Drug Awareness trailer. Designed and equipped with Campbell's own money,
the mobile classroom is possibly the only drug education program of its
type in the entire country.

It's been Campbell's dream to see a community meeting on methamphetamine
labs since he got the trailer up and running in March. "It's going to take
the community to do away with it (meth)," Campbell said.

"Attendance looks good," Campbell said, judging from reaction he's received
when talking with ministers, schools, and service clubs.

The teachers from Bells ISD who attend, will receive in-service training
credit, Campbell said.

"Do you know what it costs to incarcerate someone?" Campbell asked. "It
costs $40,000 to $50,000. And two-thirds of our prisons are filled with
drugs," Campbell reported.

That's a statistic that Grayson County Sheriff Keith Gary brought home
recently. "In 1996, there were 116 people in Grayson County Jail (on the
day he became Sheriff), 12 of them women. Today, there are about 390
prisoners on any given day, and 55 of those are women," Gary said. He
attributed most of that population growth to the increased drug problem.

"I regret those numbers have increased so much, but we and the other law
enforcement agencies are being aggresive regarding the pursuit of meth
dealers and cooks."

Campbell believes, "We're losing the war on drugs. But in this area, we
have an option. We have a chance to teach students to say 'No' and have a
good understanding of why," he said.

Speakers at the "What's Cooking In Your Neighborhood?" seminar will include
Campbell and Gary, along with David Whitlock, Grayson County Commissioner,
Pct. 2; Sgt. Kevin Hugghins, Texas Department of Public Safety; Clyde
Siebman, attorney-at-law; Joe Petruzelli, Substance Abuse Council; Joe
Bellis, Faces and Voices of Recovery; Marcus Pryor, Denison Police
Department; Joe Brown and Lauri Blake, Grayson County Attorneys Office; and
Sgt. Jay Whitney, Grayson County Sheriff's Office.

Trinity United Methodist Church is located at 101 East U.S. Highway 69 in
Denison.